Politics in Germany - National Paralegal...

Chapter Ten

Politics in Germany

Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm

Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008

Country Bio: Germany Country Bio: Germany

§ Population: § 82.5 million

§ Territory: § 137,803 sq. miles

§ Year of Independence: § 1871

§ Year of Current Constitution: § 1949

§ Head of State: § President Horst Kohler

§ Head of Government: § Chancellor Angela Merkel

§ Population: § 82.5 million

§ Territory: § 137,803 sq. miles

§ Year of Independence: § 1871

§ Year of Current Constitution: § 1949

§ Head of State: § President Horst Kohler

§ Head of Government: § Chancellor Angela Merkel

§ Language: § German

§ Religion: § Protestant 34% § Roman Catholic 34% § Muslim 4% § Unaffiliated or other 28%

§ Scheduled Castes § 16.2% of population

§ Scheduled Tribes § 8.2% of population

§ Language: § German

§ Religion: § Protestant 34% § Roman Catholic 34% § Muslim 4% § Unaffiliated or other 28%

§ Scheduled Castes § 16.2% of population

§ Scheduled Tribes § 8.2% of population

Background: Germany Background: Germany

§ Merkel’s election in 2005 § Testimony to change in Germany § Communism distant past § Two halves of the nation acting as one

§ Major achievement of contemporary German politics § Creation of a unified, free, and democratic nation in a short period of time § Unification occurred in 1990 § Contributed to a stable Europe

§ Merkel’s election in 2005 § Testimony to change in Germany § Communism distant past § Two halves of the nation acting as one

§ Major achievement of contemporary German politics § Creation of a unified, free, and democratic nation in a short period of time § Unification occurred in 1990 § Contributed to a stable Europe

Current Policy Challenges Current Policy Challenges

§ Unification related issues § Eastern Germany: struggled to compete in the globalized economic system

§ EU has invested more than 1,000 billion Euros in the East since unification § Taxes increased for all Germans in the process

§ General socioeconomic course of the nation § What direction for economic reform? § German labor costs and benefits high by international standards without comparable productivity

§ Social welfare costs spiraled upward

§ Unification related issues § Eastern Germany: struggled to compete in the globalized economic system

§ EU has invested more than 1,000 billion Euros in the East since unification § Taxes increased for all Germans in the process

§ General socioeconomic course of the nation § What direction for economic reform? § German labor costs and benefits high by international standards without comparable productivity

§ Social welfare costs spiraled upward

Current Policy Challenges Current Policy Challenges

§ Multicultural nation § New source of political tension

§ Foreign policy challenges § Role in the EU § Role in the postCold War world

§ Multicultural nation § New source of political tension

§ Foreign policy challenges § Role in the EU § Role in the postCold War world

The Historical Legacy The Historical Legacy

§ The Second German Empire § Bismarck, 1871 § Authoritarian state § Power flowed from the Kaiser § Suppression of opposition § World War I § Devastated the nation § 3 million German soldiers and civilians lost their lives § Economy strained to the breaking point § Government collapsed

§ The Second German Empire § Bismarck, 1871 § Authoritarian state § Power flowed from the Kaiser § Suppression of opposition § World War I § Devastated the nation § 3 million German soldiers and civilians lost their lives § Economy strained to the breaking point § Government collapsed


§ The Weimar Republic § 1919 – popularly elected constitutional assembly established the new democratic system of the Weimer Republic § Constitution granted all citizens the right to vote and guaranteed basic human rights § Directly elected parliament and president § Hopeful beginning – disastrous end

§ The Weimar Republic § 1919 – popularly elected constitutional assembly established the new democratic system of the Weimer Republic § Constitution granted all citizens the right to vote and guaranteed basic human rights § Directly elected parliament and president § Hopeful beginning – disastrous end


§ Severe problems § Versailles Peace Treaty: lost all overseas colonies and large amount of European territory § Burdened with moral guilt and reparations: economic problems § Great Depression of 1929 § Hurt Germany harder than it hurt other countries including the U.S. § One third of the labor force became unemployed § Parliamentary democracy began to fail § Emergence of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazis)

§ Severe problems § Versailles Peace Treaty: lost all overseas colonies and large amount of European territory § Burdened with moral guilt and reparations: economic problems § Great Depression of 1929 § Hurt Germany harder than it hurt other countries including the U.S. § One third of the labor force became unemployed § Parliamentary democracy began to fail § Emergence of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazis)


§ Failure due to a mix of factors § Lack of support from political elites and the public § They seemed to long for the old authoritarian system

§ Many Germans were not committed to democratic principles

§ Economic and political crises § Eroded public support and opened the door to Hitler

§ Most Germans drastically underestimated Hitler’s ambitions, intentions, and political abilities.

§ Failure due to a mix of factors § Lack of support from political elites and the public § They seemed to long for the old authoritarian system

§ Many Germans were not committed to democratic principles

§ Economic and political crises § Eroded public support and opened the door to Hitler

§ Most Germans drastically underestimated Hitler’s ambitions, intentions, and political abilities.


§ The Third Reich § Hitler: election 1933 § Used domination of the parliament to enact legislation granting Hitler dictatorial powers

§ New authoritarian “leader state” § Hitler pursued extremist policies

§ Destroyed opposition § Attacked Jews and other minorities § Massive public works projects lessened unemployment § Expansion of the army § Expansionist foreign policy led to WWII

§ Initial victories, but followed by a series of military defeats beginning in 1942

§ 60 million lives lost worldwide in the war, including 6 million European Jews who were murdered via systematic genocide

§ At the end of the war, Germany in ruins

§ The Third Reich § Hitler: election 1933 § Used domination of the parliament to enact legislation granting Hitler dictatorial powers

§ New authoritarian “leader state” § Hitler pursued extremist policies

§ Destroyed opposition § Attacked Jews and other minorities § Massive public works projects lessened unemployment § Expansion of the army § Expansionist foreign policy led to WWII

§ Initial victories, but followed by a series of military defeats beginning in 1942

§ 60 million lives lost worldwide in the war, including 6 million European Jews who were murdered via systematic genocide

§ At the end of the war, Germany in ruins


§ The Occupation Period § At the end of the war, the Western Allies (U.S., Britain, and France) controlled Germany’s Western zone and the Soviet Union occupied the Eastern zone.

§ West § Denazification § New political parties and democratic political institutions

§ Basic Law (Grundgesetz) § East

§ Socialist Unity Party § Draft constitution for the German Democratic RepublicEast Germany

§ The Occupation Period § At the end of the war, the Western Allies (U.S., Britain, and France) controlled Germany’s Western zone and the Soviet Union occupied the Eastern zone.

§ West § Denazification § New political parties and democratic political institutions

§ Basic Law (Grundgesetz) § East

§ Socialist Unity Party § Draft constitution for the German Democratic RepublicEast Germany

Following Two Paths Following Two Paths

§ Faced similar challenges § West Germany § Economic challenge § Free enterprise system

§ Christian Democratic Union § Economic Miracle

§ East Germany § Economic miracle almost as impressive § Collectivized agriculture, nationalized industry, and centralized planning

§ Process of reconciliation § Helmut Kohl § Gorbachev § Opening of the Berlin Wall § Western Germany dominated the process and the outcome

§ Faced similar challenges § West Germany § Economic challenge § Free enterprise system

§ Christian Democratic Union § Economic Miracle

§ East Germany § Economic miracle almost as impressive § Collectivized agriculture, nationalized industry, and centralized planning

§ Process of reconciliation § Helmut Kohl § Gorbachev § Opening of the Berlin Wall § Western Germany dominated the process and the outcome

Social Forces Social Forces

§ Economics § Largest state in the EU § Merger of two different economies

§ Religion § Unification has unsettled the delicate religious balance

§ Economics § Largest state in the EU § Merger of two different economies

§ Religion § Unification has unsettled the delicate religious balance

Social Forces Social Forces

§ Gender § Basic Law guarantees the equality of the sexes, but the specific legislation to support this guarantee often lacking

§ Merkel’s selection as Chancellor may have an impact

§ Minorities § Guest workers § Isolated from mainstream society § Lower end of economic ladder § Some opposition to further immigration

§ Regionalism § Potential source of social and political division

§ Gender § Basic Law guarantees the equality of the sexes, but the specific legislation to support this guarantee often lacking

§ Merkel’s selection as Chancellor may have an impact

§ Minorities § Guest workers § Isolated from mainstream society § Lower end of economic ladder § Some opposition to further immigration

§ Regionalism § Potential source of social and political division

The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government

§ Basic law – specific goals: § To develop a stable and democratic political system § To maintain some historical continuity in political institutions (parliamentary system) § To recreate a federal structure of government § To avoid the institutional weakness that contributed to the collapse of Weimar democracy § To establish institutional limits on extremist and antisystem forces

§ Basic law – specific goals: § To develop a stable and democratic political system § To maintain some historical continuity in political institutions (parliamentary system) § To recreate a federal structure of government § To avoid the institutional weakness that contributed to the collapse of Weimar democracy § To establish institutional limits on extremist and antisystem forces

The Institutions and Structure of Government The Institutions and Structure of Government § A federal system (Bund)

§ State governments have a unicameral legislature, normally called a Landtag, which is directly elected by popular vote.

§ Sixteen states (Lander) § Political power divided between federal and state governments.

§ Parliamentary government § The Bundestag (Federal Diet) 598 deputies; elections every four years

§ Enact legislation § Forum for public debate § Oversight “question hour”

§ The Bundestrat (Federal Council) 69 members § Role is to represent state interests

§ The Federal Chancellor and Cabinet § Strengthened formal powers (Basic Law) § Elected by the Bundestag § Control over the Cabinet

§ A federal system (Bund) § State governments have a unicameral legislature, normally called a Landtag, which is directly elected by popular vote.

§ Sixteen states (Lander) § Political power divided between federal and state governments.

§ Parliamentary government § The Bundestag (Federal Diet) 598 deputies; elections every four years

§ Enact legislation § Forum for public debate § Oversight “question hour”

§ The Bundestrat (Federal Council) 69 members § Role is to represent state interests

§ The Federal Chancellor and Cabinet § Strengthened formal powers (Basic Law) § Elected by the Bundestag § Control over the Cabinet


§ Federal government functions based on three principles based on Basic Law § Chancellor principle § Ministerial autonomy § Cabinet principle

§ The Federal President § Basic Law transformed this office into a mostly ceremonial one

§ Federal government functions based on three principles based on Basic Law § Chancellor principle § Ministerial autonomy § Cabinet principle

§ The Federal President § Basic Law transformed this office into a mostly ceremonial one


§ The Judicial System § Ordinary courts § Administrative courts § Constitutional Court

§ The Separation of Powers § Basic Law – avoiding concentration of power

§ Constructive noconfidence vote

§ Role of Constitutional Court as a check

§ The Judicial System § Ordinary courts § Administrative courts § Constitutional Court

§ The Separation of Powers § Basic Law – avoiding concentration of power

§ Constructive noconfidence vote

§ Role of Constitutional Court as a check

Remaking Political Cultures Remaking Political Cultures

§ Orientations § Toward the system and nation § Toward the democratic process

§ Social values and the new politics § Two peoples in one nation?

§ Orientations § Toward the system and nation § Toward the democratic process

§ Social values and the new politics § Two peoples in one nation?

Political Learning and Political Communication Political Learning and Political Communication

§ Family influences § Education § Social stratification § Mass media

§ Family influences § Education § Social stratification § Mass media

Citizen Participation Citizen Participation

§ 1950s almost twothirds of the West German public never discussed politics § Today about threequarters claim they talk about politics regularly. § Rising participation levels § Growth of citizen action groups § Voting levels highest of any European democracy § Sign petitions, boycott § Both sides of the country actively involved

§ 1950s almost twothirds of the West German public never discussed politics § Today about threequarters claim they talk about politics regularly. § Rising participation levels § Growth of citizen action groups § Voting levels highest of any European democracy § Sign petitions, boycott § Both sides of the country actively involved

Politics at the Elite Level Politics at the Elite Level

§ Few thousand political elite manage the actual workings of the political system § Party elites § Leaders of interest groups and political associations

§ Recruitment § Long apprenticeship period

§ Varied political preferences among elites

§ Few thousand political elite manage the actual workings of the political system § Party elites § Leaders of interest groups and political associations

§ Recruitment § Long apprenticeship period

§ Varied political preferences among elites

Interest Groups Interest Groups

§ Interest groups are connected to the government more closely in Germany than in the U.S. § Formally involved in the policy process § Neocorporatism § Social interests are organized into virtually compulsory organizations. § A single association represents each social sector. § These associations are hierarchically structured. § Associations may participate directly in the policy process.

§ Business § Labor § Religious interests § New politics movement

§ Interest groups are connected to the government more closely in Germany than in the U.S. § Formally involved in the policy process § Neocorporatism § Social interests are organized into virtually compulsory organizations. § A single association represents each social sector. § These associations are hierarchically structured. § Associations may participate directly in the policy process.

§ Business § Labor § Religious interests § New politics movement

The Party System The Party System

§ Christian Democrats § Free Democratic Party § The Greens § The Party of Democratic Socialism

§ Christian Democrats § Free Democratic Party § The Greens § The Party of Democratic Socialism

The Role of Elections The Role of Elections

§ Goals of Basic Laws for the electoral system: § Create a proportional representation system (PR) § Also, use singlemember system to avoid fragmentation of the Weimar party system and ensure some accountability between electoral district and its representative

§ Mixed electoral system § Ballot: vote for a candidate to represent district; second part of the ballot they select a party

§ Half of Bundestag members are elected a district representatives and half as party representatives.

§ 5 percent clause § Party leaders have influence on who will be elected due to their ability to place candidates on the list

§ PR system also ensures fair representation for minor parties § Affects campaign strategies

§ The electoral connection

§ Goals of Basic Laws for the electoral system: § Create a proportional representation system (PR) § Also, use singlemember system to avoid fragmentation of the Weimar party system and ensure some accountability between electoral district and its representative

§ Mixed electoral system § Ballot: vote for a candidate to represent district; second part of the ballot they select a party

§ Half of Bundestag members are elected a district representatives and half as party representatives.

§ 5 percent clause § Party leaders have influence on who will be elected due to their ability to place candidates on the list

§ PR system also ensures fair representation for minor parties § Affects campaign strategies

§ The electoral connection

Party Government Party Government

§ Parties are important political actors in German politics. § Basic Law § Specifically refers to political parties § Guarantees their legitimacy and their right to exist if they accept the principles of democratic government

§ Primary institutions of representative democracy § Educational function of parties § No direct primaries § Candidates are merely “representatives” of the party § Parties form government and are central actors within the Bundestag § Structured around parties § Cohesion high

§ Parties are important political actors in German politics. § Basic Law § Specifically refers to political parties § Guarantees their legitimacy and their right to exist if they accept the principles of democratic government

§ Primary institutions of representative democracy § Educational function of parties § No direct primaries § Candidates are merely “representatives” of the party § Parties form government and are central actors within the Bundestag § Structured around parties § Cohesion high

The Policy Process The Policy Process

§ Policy initiation § Most issues reach the policy agenda through the executive branch.

§ Legislating policy § State and federal governments share legislative power.

§ Policy initiation § Most issues reach the policy agenda through the executive branch.

§ Legislating policy § State and federal governments share legislative power.

The Policy Process The Policy Process

§ Policy administration § Basic law assigned the administrative responsibility for most domestic policies to the state governments § States employ more civil servants than the federal and local governments combined.

§ Judicial review § Constitutional Court can evaluate the constitutionality of legislation and void laws that violate the provisions of the Basic Law.

§ Policy administration § Basic law assigned the administrative responsibility for most domestic policies to the state governments § States employ more civil servants than the federal and local governments combined.

§ Judicial review § Constitutional Court can evaluate the constitutionality of legislation and void laws that violate the provisions of the Basic Law.

Policy Performance Policy Performance

§ The Federal Republic’s policy record § Increases in total public spending and new policy responsibilities § Difficult to describe the activities in terms of revenue and budgets – complex system § Extensive network of social services

§ Social security programs are the largest part of public expenditures § Policy responsibility is divided among three levels of government

§ Education § Defense and foreign policy § Economic policy § NATO

§ Public expenditures show the policy efforts of the government, but the actual results of this spending are more difficult to assess.

§ The Federal Republic’s policy record § Increases in total public spending and new policy responsibilities § Difficult to describe the activities in terms of revenue and budgets – complex system § Extensive network of social services

§ Social security programs are the largest part of public expenditures § Policy responsibility is divided among three levels of government

§ Education § Defense and foreign policy § Economic policy § NATO

§ Public expenditures show the policy efforts of the government, but the actual results of this spending are more difficult to assess.

Policy Performance Policy Performance

§ Overall, many areas have seen improvement in both sections of the country: housing, living standards, work, income, social security, environmental security, and public security. § Paying the Costs § Three different types of revenue provide the bulk of resources for public policy programs: § Contributions to the social security system (selffinanced by employer and employee contributions) § Direct taxes § Indirect taxes

§ Overall, many areas have seen improvement in both sections of the country: housing, living standards, work, income, social security, environmental security, and public security. § Paying the Costs § Three different types of revenue provide the bulk of resources for public policy programs: § Contributions to the social security system (selffinanced by employer and employee contributions) § Direct taxes § Indirect taxes

Addressing the Policy Challenges Addressing the Policy Challenges

§ The problems of unification § Reforming the welfare state § A new world role

§ The problems of unification § Reforming the welfare state § A new world role

After the Revolution After the Revolution

§ Unification § Presented new social, political, and economic challenges for the nation. § Mergers bring problems. § Strains magnified by elites § Need for consensus both socially and politically

§ Resolution of questions regarding national identity

§ Unification § Presented new social, political, and economic challenges for the nation. § Mergers bring problems. § Strains magnified by elites § Need for consensus both socially and politically

§ Resolution of questions regarding national identity

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